Distinct variety of plum plant

ABSTRACT

1. A new and distinct variety of plum substantially as illustrated and described, which is generally similar to the Casselman plum but is distinguishable therefrom primarily by its fruit having a noticeably lighter bloom, giving the skin a brighter, darker red color, and by its fruit ripening 3 to 5 days earlier, and being slightly larger and more oblong.

The present invention relates to a plum tree and more particularly to anew and distinct variety thereof generally similar to a Casselman plum(unpatented) and broadly characterized by its fruit bloom which is lessthan a Casselman, giving the fruit a brighter, darker red color, and bythe fruit being slightly more oblong, larger and ripening three to fivedays earlier than the Casselman plum.

I discovered the present variety on a farm owned by me at Fresno, FresnoCounty, Calif., as follows. Several years ago I noticed that one of theCasselman variety (unpatented) plum trees in an orchard on my said farmhad a different limb on it. The leaves and blossoms came on the limb atabout the same time as on the other limbs, or the other trees in theorchard, however, the leaves were slightly broader. Eventually the limbbudded and produced fruit which came on several days earlier than thefruit from other limbs on the tree or on other trees in the orchard. Thefruit was substantially identical to the Casselman plum except for itsearlier maturity, its being more oblong and slightly larger, and thebloom on the fruit was less, giving the fruit a brighter, darker redcolor.

Subsequently, I grafted scions from the limb onto Wickson plum rootstock. The grafts grew well and ultimately yielded fruit which hadcharacteristics identical to the fruit from the original limb.

The accompanying drawing is a color photographic print of acharacteristic whole fruit (three views) of the subject new varietyshowing the shape and skin color, and a characteristic fruit divided atits suture plane showing the flesh color and pit (two views).

Referring now more specifically to the pomological characteristics ofthis new and distinct variety of plum tree, the following has beenobserved under the ecological conditions prevailing near Fresno, FresnoCounty, Calif., and is an outline description thereof. All major colorplate identifications are by reference to Ridgeway, Robert ColorStandards and Color Nomenclature, 1912.

TREE

Leaves:

Shape.--Shoot leaves: ovate; apex, acuminate; base, acute; Margin,crenate; color, dorsal, Empire Green (Plate XXXII); ventral, Light BlueGreen (Plate XVII); ventral surface vein, Absinthe Green to Light CressGreen (Plate XXXI). Spur leaves: obovate; apex, acuminate; base,tapering; margin, crenate; color, same as for shoot leaves.

Size.--Shoot leaves: medium size; 51/2" long by 21/4" wide; slightlylarger than Casselman. Spur leaves: small, 35/8" by 11/4" wide, thin;slightly larger than Casselman.

Petiole.--Shoot leaves: 5/8" to 3/4"; medium length and thickness. Spurleaves: to 5/8"; medium slender.

Glands.--At base of leaf: none.

Deciduous.--Similar to comparative variety.

Flowers: Same as Casselman.

Fruit: Described at maturity:

Ripening.--Three to five days earlier than Casselman.

Size.--Axially, 21/4"; at right angle to suture plane, 2 5/16"; traversein suture plane, 21/4"; slightly larger than Casselman.

Form.--Globose to broad ovate; slightly more oblong than Casselman.

Suture.--A very shallow groove from base to apex; lightly creased inapex; occasionally slightly cracked at shoulder. Similar to Casselman.

Base.--Cavity nearly round; medium, flat to narrow, rounded. Similar toCasselman.

Stem.--Length 3/8" to 1/2"; medium stout, 1/16" in diameter; LightBrownish Olive (Plate XXX). Similar to Casselman.

Skin.--Thin, moderately tough, tenacious to flesh. Numerous dots; verylight bloom; Light Purplish Vinaceous (Plate XXXIX) bloom color; blushcolor substantially the same as bloom color; ground color similar toCasselman (Chalcedony Yellow, Plate XVII). The difference in colorbetween the new variety and the Casselman plum (the Casselman plum bloomcolor being Light Mauve (Plate XXV), and its blush color with bloomremoved, Napal Red (Plate I) to Bordeaux (Plate XII)) is due principallyto the lack of bloom on the new variety. This is its most prominentdistinguishing feature.

Flesh.--Firm, meaty; even ripening; sprightly flavor; firm; color sameas Casselman (Mustard Yellow, Plate XVI).

stone:

Tenacity to flesh.-- Adheres toward apex; otherwise free.

Color.-- Warm Buff to Antimony Yellow (Plate XV).

size.-- Length 7/8"; breadth 3/4"; thickness 3/8".

Similarity to parent plant: My new variety is generally similar to theCasselman plum (unpatented) but has a considerably lighter fruit bloom,giving the fruit a brighter, darker red color. Also, the fruit isslightly more oblong and slightly larger than the Casselman, has amilder flavor, and ripens 3 to 5 days earlier.

Use: Distant markets. Very good shipping quality. Very good eatingquality, milder flavor than parent plant with not so much acidity.

Although my new variety of plum possesses the desired characteristicsunder the growing conditions near Fresno, Fresno County, Calif., havingfirst been observed there, it is to be understood that variations of theusual magnitude in characteristics incident to the growing conditions,fertilization, pruning and pest control are to be expected.

Having thus described and illustrated my new variety of plum tree, whatis claimed is:
 1. A new and distinct variety of plum substantially asillustrated and described, which is generally similar to the Casselmanplum but is distinguishable therefrom primarily by its fruit having anoticeably lighter bloom, giving the skin a brighter, darker red color,and by its fruit ripening 3 to 5 days earlier, and being slightly largerand more oblong.